TSP
TSP
"Thank you for asking. I've done some research on The Software Practice, and I'm
excited about the opportunity to potentially join your team. From my understanding,
The Software Practice is a leading company in the software development industry,
known for its focus on delivering innovative solutions to clients. The company has a
reputation for fostering a collaborative and inclusive work environment that
encourages continuous learning and professional growth. I've noticed that The
Software Practice values a DevOps culture, emphasizing the integration of
development and operations to streamline software delivery and improve efficiency.
This approach aligns well with my career aspirations and passion for optimizing the
software development lifecycle.
Furthermore, I've learned that The Software Practice has a track record of successfully
implementing modern technologies and best practices in cloud computing,
automation, and infrastructure management. This not only reflects the company's
commitment to staying at the forefront of industry trends but also presents an
exciting opportunity for me to contribute and expand my skills in these areas.
I've noticed that a significant aspect of application support is collaboration. The role
requires close coordination with various teams, particularly the development and
testing teams, to ensure that application defect fixes, enhancements, and patches are
properly tested and deployed in the production environment. Additionally, conducting
user requirement analysis for application enhancements showcases the role's
involvement in understanding and aligning with user needs.
Examples:
b. Performance Optimization: Deloitte's AMS team works with a client to optimize their
supply chain management application, which was facing slow response times during
peak hours. By optimizing database queries and introducing caching mechanisms, the
team significantly improves application performance, enabling more efficient supply
chain operations.
d. Security Compliance: Deloitte's AMS team ensures that a client's human resources
application is compliant with data protection regulations. By implementing encryption,
access controls, and regular security assessments, the team strengthens the
application's security posture, safeguarding sensitive employee information.
Basics
1. Introduce yourself
Hello, my name is Paul, and I graduated from Singapore Management University last
year. I have a deep passion for problem-solving and innovation, which has fuelled my
interest in exploring opportunities in the technology industry. I believe that the
intersection of technology presents dynamic and challenging opportunities that can
drive meaningful change and value creation.
2. Why Deloitte?
First and foremost, The Software Practice has a reputation for fostering a collaborative
and innovative work environment. Your emphasis on continuous learning and
professional growth resonates with me, as I'm dedicated to staying current with
industry trends and expanding my skill set. The opportunity to work in an environment
that values these principles is something I'm truly excited about.
Moreover, I'm drawn to The Software Practice's commitment to DevOps practices. The
emphasis on integrating development and operations to streamline software delivery
and enhance efficiency reflects the modern approach I'm passionate about. This role
would allow me to contribute to a culture that aligns with my skills and interests in
optimizing the software development lifecycle.
I'm truly excited about the prospect of taking on the DevOps entry role at The
Software Practice. This position aligns perfectly with both my professional background
and my career aspirations.
First and foremost, I've always been passionate about bridging the gap between
development and operations to enhance the software development lifecycle. The
responsibilities outlined in the job description, such as providing application support,
coordinating with cross-functional teams, and deploying enhancements to the
production environment, resonate deeply with my desire to optimize software delivery
processes. I believe that by contributing to these areas, I can not only help streamline
operations but also contribute to a culture of continuous improvement.
This made me actively pursue internships and roles in the tech space and I landed an
internship at Pace Enterprise which was a BNPL startup. (Share about Pace). My role
there was not really a technical one, it was as a Customer Experience Intern. However, I
got the chance to work alongside a team of software developers and the work they do
really inspires me. This experience allowed me to see how the theoretical knowledge I
have learnt was being applied to real world scenarios and allowed me to partake a little
during their SDLC where I got familiar with the JIRA/Hubspot ticketing system, creating
user stories for UIUX.
The other two roles were more client-facing sales roles. They imparted me with some
valuable lessons. On skills like project management, relationship/ stakeholder
management.
cross-functional collaborations with technology teams, working closely with software developers and IT
professionals to align business objectives with technical capabilities. This experience allowed me to bridge
the gap between sales and technology, leveraging my interpersonal skills to communicate customer needs
and requirements effectively.
My most recent tech experience at the top of my mind would be my time as a production
management analyst at Wiley Edge.
Wiley Edge students are trained to have an aptitude for learning and problem solving in a
highly technical environment. Additional training focusses on relevant technologies, typical
financial systems, and core business knowledge.
- in-depth discussions about production support activities, including but not limited to ITIL,
monitoring, DevOps, SRE, incident management and disaster recovery.
- Proficient in Python programming, capable of creating basic programs with user input,
utilizing common data structures and implementing a flow of control
GitHub · Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) · ITIL · Service Level Management ·
DevOps · Site Reliability Engineering · MySQL · Linux · Jenkins · Agile Methodologies ·
Python (Programming Language)
Monitoring system health (parameters like CPU utilization, memory usage, disk space,
network traffic, response times, server uptime, error rates)
Resolving incidents (application downtime, slow response time, errors and crashes,
security breach)
Investigating past incidents (RCA, investigate cause of the down time, and then work with
a myriad of solutions like optimizing database queries, improving code efficiency,
reallocating your resources, etc)
Managing the release process for new versions of software (GitHub, GitLab, Git
collaboration)
Working closely with business stakeholders to resolve issues with technical systems and
applications. Work is tracked using ‘tickets’.
You’ll also regularly communicate with other technical teams including vendors, developers
and infrastructure on release management and issue resolution
While my resume shows a lot of sales and business development, I have always been
fascinated by the transformative power of technology and its potential to drive business
growth and innovation. Throughout my career, I actively sought opportunities to
incorporate technology into my work and stay updated on the latest trends and
advancements.
In my sales roles, I consistently explored digital tools and platforms to enhance customer
engagement and streamline processes. For instance, I implemented customer relationship
management (CRM) software to track and manage leads effectively, resulting in improved
sales conversions and enhanced customer satisfaction. I also utilized data analytics to
identify market trends and develop targeted strategies that contributed to revenue growth.
Moreover, my experience in sales and business development has honed my ability to identify opportunities,
negotiate effectively, and build strong client relationships - all of which are vital in the technology industry. I
have a proven track record of adapting to changing market dynamics and driving results in a fast-paced
environment, skills that are highly transferrable to the dynamic and innovative nature of the technology
sector.
While I may not have a direct technical background, my passion for technology and its potential to drive
business growth, coupled with my proven sales and business development skills, make me well-equipped
to contribute to the technology industry. I am eager to leverage my existing expertise, embrace new
learning opportunities, and collaborate with technology professionals to achieve innovative solutions and
drive positive change.
Personality / Culture
1. Tell me about a challenge you had and how you solved it?
Task: As I began working on the project, I realized that the scope was quite large and
ambiguous, and the goals set by my manager were too ambitious. Although I was able
to meet the weekly goals, I felt that the quality of the work was lacking, and that we
could streamline the project to achieve better results.
Result: Thanks to the new project outline and timeline, my team was able to set up a
strong knowledge base that was still being utilized when I left the company. By
communicating my concerns and proposing an alternative solution, I was able to
improve the quality of the work while still meeting the project goals. This experience
taught me the importance of communicating effectively and adapting to changing
circumstances in order to achieve the best possible outcomes.
- Too vague: Too many product offerings, some were not relevant (script)
- Streamlined: Focused on specific product offerings (categories)
T: Early on during the project, our workstyles clashed which resulted in progress being
hindered.
A: I felt it was my responsibility to speak to him to try and reach a compromise for the
sake of the project. I sat down with him and explained how I felt our different
workstyles were causing an issue, I asked him what he felt I could do to help the
project progress better.
R: He explained that he needed to take his time with some tasks because he was very
methodical. I listened to what he had to say before coming up with a plan that we
could both work with.
S: The plan I suggested was that I should focus on time-sensitive tasks while he could
concentrate on more technical matters that needed in-depth analysis which were very
methodical.
T: By analyzing the conflict and using a compromise-based approach to deal with it,
we were able to ensure that the project was finished on time and to the right
standard.
- Our tickets came with different priorities, the bigger tickets came with technical
issues that required analysis
Task: My task was to listen to her concerns, empathize with her, and provide
her with a solution that would solve her problem.
Result: The customer was very happy with my assistance, and she took the
time to write a heartfelt email thanking me for my help. She mentioned that
my friendly demeanor and willingness to help her in her time of need made
her feel like she was truly valued as a customer.
Situation: In a previous project, I was working with a new client who wanted
us to clean their existing data for further processing. I promised them a
turnaround time of two weeks, assuming that my team could handle the
workload.
Action: We apologized to the client and reassured them that we would take
steps to ensure that this mistake wouldn't happen again. I personally
realized that it's always better to under-promise and over-deliver. I made a
mental note to be more cautious in managing client expectations and to
include extra time for unforeseen circumstances in my project planning.
Result: In the next project I worked on, I told the client we would deliver in
four weeks, which was a more realistic timeline. We ended up delivering in
three weeks, and the client was thrilled with the result. They even
commented on how impressed they were with our communication
throughout the project, which I attribute to the lessons I learned from the
previous project.
Task: I continued to focus on my other KPIs and didn't try to figure out how to meet
the 20% growth target. After two weeks, my manager asked about my progress, and I
had to admit that I hadn't done anything differently.
Action: My manager immediately tasked me with coming up with three possible ideas
to grow the list and sending them to her by the end of the next day. I realized that I
had to break down the problem into smaller steps and focus on achievable goals. So, I
brainstormed and came up with a few ideas, and my manager helped me refine them.
I implemented a few ideas but started too late in the month, and I only achieved 10%
growth, failing to meet the goal.
Result: I learned that I should never ignore something that feels too big and that I
should try to break it down into more achievable steps or reach out for help. This early
experience turned me into someone who is conscientious and effective when it comes
to pursuing new goals. The next month, I continued to try new things and achieved a
22% growth, exceeding the target.
Through this experience, I realized that failure is not giving up without trying
everything reasonably possible. I learned to break down problems into smaller steps
and focus on achievable goals. I now approach difficult tasks with more confidence
and am not afraid to ask for help when needed.
Situation: During my last semester, my team and I were tasked with giving a big
presentation to a prospective client for a data analysis project that involved a lot of
research ahead of time.
Task: The professor assigned different tasks to members of my team, including giving
the youngest member a chance to give the presentation. However, the project never
really got moving, and members were struggling with their assigned tasks.
Action: I took the initiative and asked my team about their concerns and gave
everyone an opportunity to share their input. After carefully considering everyone's
opinions, we ended up switching a few people around based on our individual
strengths and weaknesses. I made sure to keep everyone informed about the new
action plan, and we continued to communicate openly throughout the project.
Result: Our project progressed smoothly, and we completed our tasks within the
deadline. When the time came for the real presentation, we were fully prepared, and
we nailed it. We landed the client, and our project is still used as an example by our
professor today. I'm proud of how my team came together, and I believe that our
open communication and willingness to help each other were key to our success.
Task: Our task was to complete the project on time, despite being short-staffed.
Action: To overcome this challenge, we sat down as a team and brainstormed ideas. I
suggested that we all commit an extra hour each evening after work for the duration
of the project, which would give us an extra four hours each week to work on the
project. Additionally, I recommended that we outsource some of the more technical
tasks to contractors online, which would save us time and guarantee that the project
would be finished on time.
The team agreed to my plan, and we all committed to the extra hours for two weeks.
During this time, I made sure to check in with everyone regularly to ensure that they
were still on board with the plan and to see if we needed to make any adjustments.
Result: Thanks to our collective effort and commitment, we were able to complete the
project on time and to specification. The extra hours and outsourcing allowed us to
pick up the slack caused by our missing team members and ensured that the project
was delivered as promised.
What I learned: This experience taught me the importance of being proactive and
adaptable in the face of unexpected challenges. By suggesting a new plan of action
and ensuring that everyone was committed to it, I was able to help our team
overcome a difficult problem and complete our project successfully.Overall, I believe
that my ability to work collaboratively and come up with creative solutions to
problems makes me well-suited for the customer success role at MyDoc.
9. WORK TOGETHER
Task: The task at hand was to ensure effective collaboration and coordination among
team members, allowing them to work together seamlessly towards the successful
implementation of the CRM system.
Situation: In my previous role as a team leader, our department was facing significant
budget cuts due to financial constraints within the organization. As a result, I had to
make a difficult decision that impacted my team members.
Task: The task was to evaluate and implement necessary cost-saving measures while
minimizing the negative impact on the team's morale and productivity.
In summary, when faced with the need to make a difficult decision that impacted
others, I prioritized transparent communication, collaboration, fairness, and empathy.
This approach helped me navigate the challenges while minimizing the negative
impact on the team's well-being and productivity.
11. DEADLINE
Task: The task was to effectively manage these various tasks and ensure timely
completion of each component to meet the campaign's overall timeline and
objectives.
1. Prioritization and task breakdown: I began by breaking down the project into
smaller, manageable tasks and prioritizing them based on urgency and
dependencies. This allowed me to have a clear understanding of the tasks at
hand and their relative importance.
2. Establishing a timeline and milestones: I created a detailed timeline with
specific milestones for each task. This helped me visualize the project's progress
and set interim goals to track my progress effectively.
3. Utilizing project management tools: I leveraged project management tools such
as Trello or Asana to create task boards and organize the different components.
I assigned due dates, added descriptions, and attached relevant files to each
task, providing clarity and structure.
4. Regular progress tracking: I scheduled regular check-ins with myself to review
the status of each task. During these check-ins, I assessed the completion
percentage, identified any potential bottlenecks, and made necessary
adjustments to ensure tasks remained on track.
5. Communication and collaboration: I maintained open lines of communication
with team members involved in different aspects of the campaign. Regular team
meetings and updates allowed us to align our efforts, share progress, and
address any challenges collectively.
6. Flexibility and adaptability: As new information or priorities emerged, I remained
flexible and adjusted my task priorities accordingly. This ensured that I could
accommodate changes without compromising the overall project timeline.
In summary, when faced with a project involving multiple tasks and strict deadlines, I
relied on prioritization, task breakdown, project management tools, regular progress
tracking, effective communication, and adaptability. These strategies allowed me to
manage my time effectively and ensure the timely completion of all tasks, resulting in
successful project outcomes.
1. Strong digital acumen: I have developed a solid understanding of digital
technologies, trends, and their application in business. Through my coursework
and personal projects, I have gained knowledge of concepts like artificial
intelligence, data analytics, digital marketing, and user experience design. This
foundation enables me to quickly grasp new digital concepts and contribute to
the implementation of digital initiatives.
2. Adaptable and eager to learn: As a recent graduate, I bring a fresh perspective
and a strong desire to continuously learn and grow. I am excited to stay
updated on the latest digital advancements, industry best practices, and
emerging technologies. I am open to acquiring new skills and applying them in
real-world scenarios to support the CDO department's objectives.
3. Analytical and data-driven mindset: I possess strong analytical skills and the
ability to derive insights from data. I can leverage data analytics tools to identify
trends, assess performance, and make data-driven recommendations to
optimize digital initiatives. This skillset enables me to contribute to the
measurement and improvement of key performance indicators, helping the
department make informed decisions.
4. Collaboration and teamwork: I value teamwork and understand the importance
of collaboration in achieving digital goals. Through group projects during my
studies, I have experience working in diverse teams and effectively contributing
to achieve shared objectives. I can collaborate with stakeholders across
different functions, bridging the gap between technical and non-technical teams
to drive successful digital projects.
5. Strong communication skills: I have honed my communication skills through
presentations, group discussions, and written reports during my academic
journey. I can effectively articulate complex digital concepts to both technical
and non-technical stakeholders. This skill allows me to convey ideas, influence
decision-making, and build strong relationships within the CDO department and
across the organization.
6. Passion for customer-centricity: I strongly believe in putting the customer at the
center of digital initiatives. I have studied user-centric design principles and
conducted user research exercises during my studies. I am eager to apply these
skills to ensure that digital solutions meet customer needs, enhance
experiences, and drive positive outcomes for both the organization and its
customers.
2. What has been your best work achievement to this point in your career. What made
this achievement important?
Task: My task was to make sure that every team member's voice was heard and
considered, and to ensure that the team's final decision was the best one.
Action: When a new member came to me with a different idea, my first step was to
listen actively to what they had to say. I asked them to explain their idea in detail, and
I made sure to give them my full attention. After they had explained their idea, I
would try to clarify any points that were unclear or that needed further elaboration.
Once I had a good understanding of their idea, I would share it with the rest of the
team during our next meeting.
Next, I would encourage the team to discuss the new idea and to provide constructive
feedback. I made sure that everyone had an opportunity to speak and that all opinions
were considered. If there were any disagreements or concerns, I would address them
in a respectful and open manner.
Finally, I would work with the team to come up with a final decision that took
everyone's ideas and concerns into account. Sometimes this meant incorporating the
new member's idea into the final plan, while other times it meant finding a
compromise that satisfied everyone.
Result: By taking this approach, I was able to create an environment where everyone
felt heard and valued. It also led to better decision-making and more successful
outcomes. One specific example was when a new team member suggested using a
new software tool that I was not familiar with. I listened to their suggestion and did
some research on the tool. After discussing it with the team, we decided to give it a
try, and it turned out to be a great addition to our workflow.
Tell me about a time you had a disagreement with a manager and how you handled it?
“My last boss was very focused on both transparency and teamwork—he wanted us to
know not only what everyone was working on, but also how well or badly we were doing.
During team meetings, we’d have to talk about what we’d done in the past week, but he’d
also take the opportunity to give us feedback in front of the group—both good and bad.
During a new team member’s first team meeting, he tore into him for a graph he’d created,
telling him how hard it was to read because the colors clashed, and wondering—to the
entire group—how he’d gotten hired as a data analyst. The person who’d made the graph
looked really upset, and said quietly that he was colorblind. The boss immediately
apologized. I had an urge to call out my manager for putting him on the spot like that—but
I knew that wouldn’t be the best approach.
“At the end of the meeting, I asked if he had a few minutes to hang back, and he did. So I
said something like, ‘I definitely didn’t think you would’ve said that if you knew he was
colorblind, but it brings up something I wanted to share with you. I've found it really tough
when we hear things like that for the first time in this meeting.’ I wanted to make it clear I
wasn’t attacking this specific mistake, just sharing how I’d felt.
“He was cold at first, but I could tell he didn’t want to escalate things, so we went back to
our desks. The next day, he sent an email to our team, apologizing for the incident the day
before. He thanked me privately for bringing it to his attention and asked me to work with
him to send out an anonymous manager feedback form so he could identify other ways to
grow. Meetings were a lot less stressful after that.”
PARAMETERS:
1. CPU Utilization: The percentage of CPU resources being used at any given time.
High CPU utilization could indicate a need for more processing power or
potential performance issues.
2. Memory Usage: Monitoring the amount of RAM being utilized helps identify
memory leaks or situations where additional memory might be required.
3. Disk Space: Keeping track of available disk space is crucial to prevent storage
issues that can lead to system failures or application crashes.
4. Network Traffic: Monitoring network bandwidth usage helps detect bottlenecks,
identify potential security threats, and optimize network performance.
5. Response Time: Tracking response times for applications and services helps
assess their performance and detect potential slowdowns or bottlenecks.
6. Server Uptime: Monitoring the duration of uninterrupted server operation helps
ensure system availability and reliability.
7. Error Rates: Tracking the frequency of system errors, application crashes, or
failed processes can identify issues that need immediate attention.
8. Service Availability: Monitoring the availability of critical services and
applications ensures that they are accessible to users when needed.
9. Connection Counts: Tracking the number of concurrent connections to servers
or applications helps manage resource allocation and capacity planning.
10. Security Events: Monitoring security-related events and logs helps detect
potential security breaches or unauthorized access attempts.
11. Application Performance Metrics: Monitoring specific application-related
metrics, such as page load times or transaction completion rates, helps assess
the overall health of the application.
12. Database Performance: Keeping an eye on database performance metrics,
like query execution times or locks, helps optimize database performance and
prevent data-related issues.
Examples:
1. Incident: Application Downtime Resolution: Investigate the cause of the
downtime, whether it's due to server issues, network problems, or application
bugs. Work with the IT team to restore the application and implement measures
to prevent similar incidents in the future, such as redundancy setups or
improved error handling.
2. Incident: Slow Application Response Time Resolution: Analyze the root cause of
the slow response time, which could be caused by database performance,
inefficient code, or high server load. Optimize database queries, improve code
efficiency, or allocate additional resources to address the performance issue.
3. Incident: Application Errors or Crashes Resolution: Identify the reasons behind
the application errors or crashes. Debug the code to find and fix the bugs
causing the issues. Conduct thorough testing before deploying the updated
version to ensure the problem is resolved.
4. Incident: Security Breach or Unauthorized Access Resolution: Investigate the
security breach, assess the extent of the damage, and take immediate action to
mitigate any further risks. Implement additional security measures, such as two-
factor authentication, security patches, or intrusion detection systems, to
prevent future breaches.
5. Incident: Data Loss or Corruption Resolution: Identify the cause of data loss or
corruption, whether it's due to hardware failure, human error, or software
issues. Implement data recovery procedures to restore lost or corrupted data,
and implement regular backups to prevent future data loss.
6. Incident: Application Integration Failure Resolution: Collaborate with the
integration team to identify the integration issues, troubleshoot the
connections, and ensure that data is flowing correctly between different
systems. Implement monitoring tools to detect integration failures proactively.
7. Incident: Application Performance Degradation after an Update Resolution:
Investigate the recent update and identify the changes that caused the
performance degradation. Roll back the update if necessary and work with
developers to fix the issues and perform thorough testing before deploying the
update again.
8. Incident: Service Level Agreement (SLA) Violation Resolution: Review the SLA to
identify the areas of violation and communicate with the stakeholders about the
steps taken to address the situation. Implement performance improvements
and regular reporting to meet SLA requirements in the future.
OPTIMIZING
"In my previous role as a technology analyst at Pace Enterprise, I was responsible for
managing and optimizing the support process for the application. During my time
there, I identified several areas for optimization and successfully implemented
process enhancements that significantly improved efficiency and productivity.
One of the key areas I focused on was incident management. I noticed that the
incident response time was often delayed due to manual triaging and routing of
tickets. To address this, I proposed the implementation of an automated ticketing
system that would automatically assign incidents to the appropriate support teams
based on predefined criteria, such as the department affected or the severity level. By
streamlining the incident routing process, we reduced the average response time by
30%, leading to faster issue resolution and increased client satisfaction.
Another area I identified for improvement was the reporting system. The existing
setup generated numerous false alerts, leading to alert fatigue and the risk of actual
issues being overlooked. To tackle this, I collaborated with the operations team to
fine-tune the reporting thresholds and implement more safeguards. As a result, we
reduced the number of false alerts by 40% and gained better visibility into genuine
performance issues, allowing us to proactively address potential problems before they
escalated.
Furthermore, I observed that the application support team spent a significant amount
of time manually performing repetitive tasks, such as running routine health checks
and generating daily reports. To free up their time for more strategic activities, I
proposed the adoption of Robotic Process Automation (RPA) for these routine tasks.
By implementing RPA bots, we automated these activities, saving the team an
average of 15 hours per week, which they could then invest in tackling more complex
challenges and exploring further process improvements.
Overall, my ability to analyze processes critically and identify pain points, combined
with my proactive approach to implementing practical solutions, has allowed me to
drive tangible improvements in efficiency and productivity. I look forward to bringing
these skills and experiences to the Application Management Analyst role at Deloitte,
where I am confident that I can make a positive impact on optimizing processes and
delivering exceptional service to clients."